Discus

Discus, an ancient sport from the 5th century BC, is an athletic event where a disc shaped object is thrown. Discus throwing is a very simple competition to understand. The competitors each compete to throw the discus the farthest. The discus is a heavy object with a diameter of 222 mm (8.66 inches) and weighs two kilograms (7 lb. 7 oz.) for the men and a diameter 181 mm (7.17 inches) 1 kilogram (2 lb. 3 oz.) for women.

In the high school track and field in the United States, boy throw a discus weighing 1.616 kg (3 lb. 9 oz.) and girls throw 1 kg (2.2 lb.). Occasionally a young child at least age 11 will throw the 1 kg discus in the midget division.

The discus has a metal core inside with a metal rim and sides made of rubber, plastic or wood. Practice discuses are made of solid rubber because of the price, durability and ease of learning. This gives them more opportunity to practice the discus throw. Learning how to throw the discus is easy, although there is a discus throwing technique. Coaches will often have discus drill for young athletes so they can improve their discus technique. Many times shot put and discus are both played because they are similar events.

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When ready to make the throw, the discus thrower stands in a concrete circle initially facing away from the direction of the throw. Then he spins in a circle 1 ½ times to build momentum and then lets go of the discus. If the correct discus technique was used, the discus will land within a 40-degree or 60-degree arc with marked lined on the landing zone. The discus rules state that the discus throwers must then wait for the judge to tell them they can leave the ring. The distance from the front edge of the circle to where it landed is measured, with the distance rounded down to the nearest centimeter or half-inch. The discus throw usually gets from three to six throws and the best throw is recorded. The competitor who throws the farthest is the winner.

In the summer games of the Olympics, they have an Olympic discus throw with an Olympic discus. This is a very popular event to watch and participate in. The athletes that participate in these events wear discus throwing shoes because they help to give you a better glide and spin technique. Discus shoes can be purchased online or in sporting goods stores.